March 7.2022. bbc news. Ukraine.
Edited by Jude Sheerin
Posted at 21:4921:49
IAEA head seeks to visit Chernobyl site
Reactor No. 4 of Chernobyl nuclear power plant
Reactor No 4 of Chernobyl nuclear power plant seen in an archival imageImage caption: Reactor No 4 of Chernobyl nuclear power plant seen in an archival image
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said that, according to Ukrainian officials, a nuclear research facility producing radioisotopes for medical and industrial purposes in Kharkiv has been damaged by shelling.
There has been no increase in radiation levels at the facility.
IAEA head, Rafael Mariano Grossi, also issued an appeal that staff at Chernobyl be given time off "so that they can carry out their work in a safe and reliable manner".
The nuclear agency said staff at the inactive plant, the site of a nuclear disaster in 1986, have continued to work there since Russian forces took control of the facility on 24 February.
Grossi said he is willing to visit Chernobyl "to obtain guarantees regarding the safety and security of all nuclear power plants in Ukraine from the parties to the conflict".
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Ukraine war: Russian shelling prevents evacuations once again - Ukraine - BBC News
Russia continues to bombard Mariupol, Kharkiv and other key cities despite offering escape routes, Ukraine officials say.
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Posted at 21:3321:33
World Bank approves $700m for Ukraine
World Bank HQ
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The World Bank has approved emergency financing of $723m (£552m) to help Ukraine's government pay public-sector wages, welfare and pensions.
The bank said the package incorporated funding from the UK, Netherlands, Sweden, Japan, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania and Iceland.
The World Bank also says it is working to release a further $3bn (£2.3bn) for Ukraine and its neighbouring countries in the coming months.
Read more:
World Bank approves $723m financial package
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Posted at 21:1321:13
What's the latest?
As we enter day 13 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, here are some of the major developments from the past 24 hours:
Ukraine says Russian attacks are preventing civilians from safely evacuating their besieged cities
Tens of thousands of people across Ukraine are without power and, in the port city of Mariupol, are running low on food and water
A third round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks ends with little agreement. A fourth round will take place on Tuesday
The US, France, Germany and the UK vow to continue raising the costs on Russia for its "unjustified" invasion of Ukraine
Russia threatened to cut its natural gas imports to Europe as retaliation for Western sanctions
In his latest video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he will stay in Kyiv "as long as it takes to win this war"
Coca-Cola and McDonalds are among firms facing a possible consumer boycott over their failure to withdraw from Russia
Ukraine says it has killed a top Russian army commander in battle near Kharkiv - the claim has not been confirmed by the BBC
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Posted at 20:3520:35
Watch: 'Why I’m staying in Kyiv to bake hundreds of pies'
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Video caption: Daria has decided not to evacuate Kyiv.Daria has decided not to evacuate Kyiv.
Daria lives in Kyiv and has taken the decision not to leave the city as Russian forces advance on her home.
Instead, the 28-year-old has moved to the basement of a local café where a small group of people are baking pies to feed Ukrainian soldiers.
Speaking to Radio 5 Live, Daria said she took the decision to stay in the city because she was born in an independent Ukraine and wants to "keep this independence for the future".
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Posted at 20:1320:13
How to parent in a war
A little girl clutches a doll at a checkpoint on the Ukraine-Slovakia border
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Ten days ago Anton Eine, a science fiction writer in Ukraine, had been due to launch his latest book - but then the Russians invaded. Now, he says, none of that matters any more. He is hunkering down in Kyiv with his wife and their three-year-old son.
"Some parents tell the kids it's a game," says Anton. "We are trying to tell our son the truth, but in a softer way, adapted to the mind of a three-year-old kid.
"We tell him that bad soldiers attacked us and the good soldiers, the ones with the Ukrainian flag, are the ones who protect us, and you don't need to worry here in this sanctuary."
Read more: How do you tell young children that you're at war?
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Posted at 19:5719:57
EU to propose phasing out Russian energy
Russian petroleum facility
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The European Union has drafted plans to diversify its energy supply and phase out its dependence on Russian oil, gas and coal imports.
The bloc currently imports nearly half of its gas and coal, and about a third of its oil, from Russia.
EU leaders will discuss the proposed phase-out this Thursday and Friday at a gathering in Versailles, France.
A draft statement reportedly refers to Russia's invasion of Ukraine as "a tectonic shift in European history".
It sets out an objective of "reducing our dependencies and designing a new growth and investment model for 2030" by accelerating the development of renewables as well as by diversifying energy supplies and routes.
Other Western leaders are also scrambling to prepare for potential shocks to global energy markets.
Earlier on Monday, British PM Boris Johnson urged a "step-by-step" move away from dependence on Russian oil and gas.
The US, which imports about 8% of its oil from Russia, has recently been trying to cut deals with major oil-exporting nations like Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Iran.
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Posted at 19:4319:43
Irish student holed up in Sumy
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Video caption: Irish medical student Racheal Diyaolu stranded in UkraineIrish medical student Racheal Diyaolu stranded in Ukraine
Racheal Diyaolu, who is 19 and from the Republic of Ireland, is one of hundreds of international students in Sumy, a Ukrainian city that has been attacked by Russia since Moscow's invasion last week.
An attempt to get the medical student out of Sumy in a minivan on Sunday failed after the vehicle was unable to get into the city.
Racheal - who has been sheltering in her university's bunker during air raid sirens - says she is now mentally "blocking out" the airstrikes and shelling.
"It does happen so frequently at this point that you kind of don't have time to be afraid anymore," she tells BBC News NI.
Her family have been calling for more help from the Irish government to bring her home.
The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs says it is aware of 52 Irish citizens in Ukraine and was in contact with them.
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Posted at 19:3419:34
UK turns away nearly 300 Ukrainians at Calais
Almost 300 Ukrainians have been turned away while trying to cross to the UK from Calais, France.
The number is almost the same as the total number of Ukrainian visas issued so far by the Home Office.
Many refugees seek to cross the border from France to the UK through the port of Calais.
About 589 people have arrived there since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began, according to Calais' sub-prefect, Véronique Deprez-Boudier. She said 286 had been turned away by UK authorities.
Some Ukrainians in Calais have told the BBC they face a wait of a week for an appointment to get a family reunion visa. But the Home Office insists visa application centres across Europe have appointments available this week.
“It’s important to build a more organised team to accompany these people to get a visa here," Deprez-Boudier told BBC News.
Some 17,700 people have applied to come to the UK as part of the Ukrainian Family Scheme, and 300 visas have been issued.
Earlier on Monday UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Britain was a "very generous country", but it wanted to maintain checks on who was arriving.
Read more on Ukrainian refugees in Calais here.
Map showing where Ukrainian refugees are fleeing to
BBCCopyright: BBC
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Posted at 19:1819:18
Russian military leader killed in battle, says Ukraine
Vitaly Gerasimov
Ukrainian ministry of defenceCopyright: Ukrainian ministry of defence
Ukrainian military intelligence says Vitaly Gerasimov died near KharkivImage caption: Ukrainian military intelligence says Vitaly Gerasimov died near Kharkiv
A top commander in the Russian army has been killed during fighting near Kharkiv, according to Ukraine's ministry of defence intelligence service.
The BBC cannot independently verify the claim; Russian officials have not commented.
According to a statement from Ukraine’s defence ministry, Vitaly Gerasimov was a major general, chief of staff and first deputy commander of the 41st Army of the Central Military District of Russia.
A number of senior Russian army officers were also killed and wounded, it says.
Ukrainian intelligence says Gerasimov took part in the second Chechen war and the Russian military operation in Syria. He received a medal "for the return of Crimea".
Ukrainian officials tweeted out a photo of someone they said was Gerasimov, with the word "Liquidated" in red letters across the bottom.
BBC diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams shares this thought on reports of Gerasimov's death.
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Posted at 18:5218:52
Three more firms withdraw from Russia
IBM HQ
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Three more companies have curtailed their operations in Russia.
IT services giant IBM will stop selling its technology in Russia and will not do business with Russian military organisations, according to a statement from its CEO Arvind Krishna.
Krishna also said the company would match employee donations to the International Red Cross to support relief efforts in Ukraine.
Consumer goods multinational Procter & Gamble also announced Monday that it would end all new capital investments in Russia, as well as all media, advertising and promotional activity.
CEO Jon Moeller committed to "significantly reducing our product portfolio" in Russia to focus on basic health, hygiene and personal care items needed by Russians.
German home improvement chain OBI said it would also leave Russia, where it has 27 branches and about 5,000 employees.
According to analysis by the Yale School of Management, some 230 Western companies have pulled out of Russia. It also listed a number of companies with "significant exposure" in Russia that continue to operate in the country, including Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Pepsi and Starbucks.
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Posted at 18:3518:35
WATCH: Zelensky is leading the entire world - US lawmaker
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Video caption: Zelensky is leading the entire world - US lawmakerZelensky is leading the entire world - US lawmaker
US congressman Seth Moulton spoke about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's state of mind after a call with US lawmakers.
Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat, told BBC World News that Zelensky was "cool, calm and collected" while "under unbelievable pressure".
He added the president was setting an example "to every freedom-loving person the world over".
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Posted at 18:2418:24
Macron and Scholz to speak with Xi
Chinese President Xi Jinping
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China has always said repeatedly that it does not interfere in the internal affairs of othersImage caption: China has always said repeatedly that it does not interfere in the internal affairs of others
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz are expected to hold a joint call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday.
The call signals a ramping up of pressure by European leaders on China over the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
On Monday, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell spoke with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi for the second time since the invasion began.
According to a readout of their call, Borrell asked Wang about "China’s readiness to support cessation of hostilities and dialogue" and support for establishing humanitarian corridors to safely evacuate civilians.
China has expressed "regret" over the attack, but has done little to condemn or oppose Moscow, in line with the principles of its foreign policy.
Read more: Can China do more to stop Russia's war in Ukraine?
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Posted at 17:5917:59
China willing to facilitate peace talks - FM
Stephen McDonell
BBC News, China correspondent
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi (file photo)
gettCopyright: gett
There are two questions regarding China and the war in Ukraine.
Does it have enough leverage to convince Russian President Vladimir Putin to call off the invasion?
And, more crucially, how much does Beijing want to use its standing with Russia to stop the war?
Every year here in the Chinese capital, the foreign minister holds a press conference on the sidelines of the National People's Congress.
It is a highly scripted event, with questions screened beforehand so you know the answers have been approved at the highest levels of the Party.
Today Wang Yi was asked if China was disappointed with Russia’s behaviour and whether its own international standing had been diminished by Beijing's refusal to describe what is happening in Ukraine as an "invasion".
The foreign minister didn't respond regarding the word "invasion", but did say that his government was "willing if needed, together with the international community, to be part of a mediation" process to resolve the crisis.
Some analysts say Beijing is using this conflict to achieve geopolitical advantage and point to the economic lifeline it's now offering Russia to keep Putin afloat, while blaming the US for the war.
Asked about sanctions by a Russian reporter, Wang said China and Russia jointly opposed "attempts to revive a cold war mindset".
For the Chinese government to be part of any solution to the Ukraine war, it will also have to be a solution that is approved by the Kremlin.
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Posted at 17:3717:37
Chernobyl workers' 12-day ordeal under Russian guard
Ben Tobias
BBC News
A Russian soldier in front of Chernobyl
Russian Defence Ministry/Getty ImagesCopyright: Russian Defence Ministry/Getty Images
More than 100 workers at Ukraine's Chernobyl nuclear power plant - the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster in 1986 - have been stuck there for more than 12 days, unable to leave after Russian forces seized the facility on the first day of the invasion.
Another 200 Ukrainian guards, who'd been in charge of security at the time of the assault, also remain trapped.
Russia says it has secured the site jointly with the Ukrainian national guard, but Ukraine disputes this and says Russian troops have full control.
Workers continue to go about their duties and the atmosphere is said to be calm, but the BBC has been told that the conditions inside are difficult, with food and medicine limited.
Because the workers don't know how long they will be there for, they are limiting themselves to one meal a day (prepared by cooks who are also stuck), and the food is said to be basic - mainly bread and porridge.
There are also growing concerns that stress could be affecting their ability to carry out their duties at the nuclear site.
"The situation is complicated and tense," Yuri Fomichev, Mayor of Slavutych, told the BBC. "It is difficult for them morally, psychologically and physically."
Read the full story here.
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Posted at 17:1717:17
UN aid chief calls for safe passage of civilians
United Nations Under-Secretary-General for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator Martin Griffiths
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
The United Nations' head of humanitarian affairs Martin Griffiths has called for fleeing Ukrainian civilians to be allowed to leave in the direction they wish.
He told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that the safe passage of aid, particularly medical supplies, into impacted areas was also crucial.
"All civilians, whether they stay or leave, must be respected and protected," he said.
All parties need to maintain "a system of constant communication" to ensure the safe passage of civilians, he said.
Griffiths added he had sent a team to Moscow to help facilitate better humanitarian coordination.
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Posted at 17:0417:04
Loud explosions heard in southern port Odesa
Paul Kenyon
BBC Panorama, Odesa
In the port city of Odesa, we've just heard three or four loud explosions coming from the west.
We're told it was the Ukrainian defence system taking down incoming Russian missiles fired from one of several war ships situated off the coast here.
Tensions are rising in Odesa - a key strategic target for Moscow. Early on Sunday, Ukrainian forces in the city claim to have hit one of the Russian fleet causing significant damage, with images on social media showing soldiers celebrating noisily.
There are daily curfews here starting at 7pm, and air raid sirens were heard for more than an hour on Monday, with warnings that Russian ships were repositions themselves in preparation for an attack.
Graphic showing Russian advances in the east of Ukraine
BBCCopyright: BBC
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Posted at 16:5516:55
I'm staying as long as it takes to win this war - Ukraine's president
Screengrab of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's address to the nation. Photo: 7 March 2022
Office of Ukraine's presidentCopyright: Office of Ukraine's president
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has just posted his latest video address, saying he is staying in his office in Kyiv.
"Not hiding. And I'm not afraid of anyone. [I'm staying] as long as it takes to win this... war!"
Zelensky showed the views of the night Kyiv from his office in the heart of the capital to prove that the message was recorded on Monday evening.
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Posted at 16:4216:42
New York's Metropolitan Opera announces 'Concert for Ukraine'
The Metropolitan Opera House in New York City
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New York City's Metropolitan Opera will host a special concert in support of Ukraine next Monday.
All ticket sales and proceeds from the event - titled "A Concert for Ukraine" - will go to relief efforts in the country.
The orchestra will be led by the Met's current music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
“The Met and its artists, led by Yannick, wish to lend our support to the innocent victims of Ukraine, whose lives have been torn asunder," wrote General Manager Peter Gelb in a statement on Monday.
"We hope the power of our performance will provide some measure of artistic solace, while helping to inspire empathetic people around the world to make donations.”
Last week, the Met cut ties with its veteran soprano Anna Netrebko - who is of Russian origin - after she failed to renounce her support for Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
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Posted at 16:3116:31
McDonald's and Coca-Cola boycott calls grow
McDonald's logo
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Pressure is growing on Western food and drink giants to pull out of Russia because of its invasion of Ukraine.
Several global companies have chosen to boycott Russia and move business away from the country.
McDonald's and Coca-Cola have been criticised on social media for failing to speak out about the attacks and continuing to operate in Russia.
The BBC has contacted McDonald's and Coca-Cola for comment but they have not responded.
Well-known firms like Netflix and Levi's have already suspended sales or stopped providing services in Russia.
#BoycottMcDonalds and #BoycottCocaCola were trending on Twitter on Monday and over the weekend respectively.
Read more here.
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Posted at 16:2216:22
'More than 742,000 without electricity in Ukraine'
Ukraine's Ministry of Energy says more than 742,000 people do not currently have access to electricity around the country.
It said the situation is most dire in the Russian-contested Donetsk region in the east, where over 233,000 are "completely disconnected".
The ministry added that more than 238,000 Ukrainians are without gas.
Several thousand customers have seen their access to power and gas restored over the past 24 hours, it said, but "active hostilities have caused new power grid damage and outages".